On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a significant reversal of its recent guidance regarding immigration raids at various industries, including farms, hotels, and restaurants. This decision contradicts President Donald Trump’s calls for mass deportations targeting individuals without legal status in the United States. The change was communicated during a call with officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division.
During the 11 a.m. call, representatives from 30 field offices across the country were informed that ICE agents are required to continue conducting immigration raids at agricultural businesses, hotels, and restaurants. This information was shared on a call that followed a previous directive from DHS, which had instructed agents to pause all worksite enforcement operations at these locations.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the reversal stemmed from the White House's lack of support for the exemption policy. An earlier email from a DHS official, sent on Thursday, had directed agents to halt operations on worksites in the agriculture sector, including aquaculture and meatpacking plants, just hours after Trump expressed sympathy for the concerns of farmers and hospitality executives regarding his deportation strategy.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for DHS, emphasized the importance of worksite enforcement, stating, “There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts.” She reiterated that enforcing immigration laws is vital for maintaining public safety, national security, and economic stability.
The current administration is under considerable pressure to escalate arrests to meet Trump’s ambitious goal of initiating the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has stated that ICE should aim for a minimum of 3,000 arrests per day. Recent reports indicated that arrests had already increased to around 2,000 daily, as noted by Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan.
Trump has found himself in a difficult position, balancing the demands of the agricultural and hospitality sectors, which rely heavily on migrant workers, against the pressure to enforce strict immigration policies. On Thursday, he hinted at forthcoming changes to protect farmers from losing essential labor, although a White House official later clarified that no formal policy changes were being considered.
Miller, a key architect of Trump’s stringent immigration strategy, privately opposed any exceptions for industries dependent on workers without legal status. In contrast, Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary, advocated for a solution that would address the concerns of the farming community.
Experts in immigration policy suggest that ICE must intensify its worksite enforcement operations to meet the administration’s ambitious arrest targets. Historically, raids at meatpacking plants have resulted in hundreds of arrests at once. Other sectors such as farms, factories, and clothing manufacturers are also affected by these enforcement actions.
A memo from June 12 acknowledged that avoiding large-scale employers would significantly limit ICE’s efforts, stating, “We acknowledge that by taking this off the table, we are eliminating a significant number of potential targets.”
In the weeks following Miller's announcement about increasing arrests, various business and industry groups have actively lobbied the White House, as well as congressional offices, advocating for an end to the heightened crackdown on illegal immigration. Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition, noted that the temporary pause signaled to employers that the president was open to finding solutions.
On Sunday night, Trump took to his Truth Social account to express his commitment to a large-scale deportation initiative, urging ICE officials to "do all in their power" to achieve what he called the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History." He indicated that this would require expanding efforts to detain and deport individuals living in the U.S. illegally, particularly in major urban areas.
When questioned about the potential for continued raids outside large Democratic cities, a White House official reiterated that while there would be an expansion of efforts in sanctuary cities, President Trump remains steadfast in enforcing federal immigration law, making it clear that anyone present in the U.S. illegally faces the risk of deportation.
